day 27: beer + fish + chips = bliss

I’ve always known that my stomach runs my life. I wake up with cravings and simply have to act on them. The failure to feed deploys the hungry version of me – the cranky, green hulk monster being kept at bay by snacks – yeah, that one.

I wish my cravings came in a complete thought … like, I’d like a BBQ sandwich with with spicy cole slaw (which sounds delish by the way). But, oh no, not me! I crave the sauce or condiments and try to figure out the rest … like, I’d like to devour something with sour cream on it. Makes no sense, but I’m used to it.

So, today when I woke up craving malt vinegar. I knew I had to break out the fish & chips and fast. Oh, and a beer (because I like it).

Pub worthy fish + chips

What you’ll need:

1 lb of white, meaty fish (I used cod), cut into 1 inch strips

2 bottled beers (one to batter and the other to drink)

2 cups of flour

1 tbsp baking powder

1 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

2 russet potatoes, skin on, cut into wedges, soaked in water

canola oil for frying

What you’ll do:

Heat oil to medium

Combine flour, baking powder, salt and pepper

Slowly add the beer to create a batter. Be sure there are no lumps left in the batter. Allow to rest in the fridge as we tend to the chips

Pat the potatoes dry and place in the oil. When potatoes begin to soften and brown slightly. Remove form oil and allow to rest on a cooling rack (this single step with give those potatoes a heck of a crunch later on)

Return potatoes to the fry to completion

Meanwhile, batter up the cod strips and drop into the oil

Once the batter begins to set, rotate! Remove when browned all around

Serve with malt vinegar, lemon and tarter if you like (my recipe is below)